What You Need to Know

• Two district court judges terminated their court reporters for “disruptive and disrespectful conduct” in September 2019, and the union representing them, Minnesota Teamsters 320, filed administrative complaints under the 2019-21 collective bargaining agreement.
• The district court determined that state law “forecloses” arbitration when an appointing judge terminates a court reporter’s employment.
• The appeals court also determined that a court reporter appointed to serve the Minnesota Judicial Branch is an at-will employee.

Two Minnesota court reporters terminated for “disruptive and disrespectful conduct” are at-will employees and are not entitled to arbitration, the state Court of Appeals ruled Monday.

The three-judge appellate panel affirmed the state district court’s decision to vacate an arbitrator’s conclusion that two former court reporters are entitled to arbitration under the pair’s collective bargaining agreement and Minnesota law. The appeals court also determined that a court reporter appointed to serve the Minnesota Judicial Branch is an at-will employee. The district court determined that state law “forecloses” arbitration when an appointing judge terminates a court reporter’s employment.

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Read Full Story: https://www.law.com/2022/01/24/state-appeals-court-rejecting-unions-arguments...